Food Packaging with Lid and Closure System for Packaging

ABSTRACT

Packaging ( 1 ) for a food product, comprising a container ( 2 ) with an opening delimited by a surround ( 32 ) and a closure system ( 3 ) comprising a lid ( 31 ) mounted articulated relative to the container ( 2 ) and able to close off the opening. The lid is locked in the closed position by a locking plate ( 41 ) connected to the lid and an engagement rim secured to the surround. The plate pivots about an axis between a locking position with its catching portion engaged with the rim and an unlocked position. The plate pivots into the unlocked position under manual actuation, away from the catching portion, of an actuating portion towards a central axis (Z). 
     The top face of the lid has a depression ( 47 ) opening laterally and the actuating portion of the plate is advantageously situated level with the mouth of the depression so that it can pivot thereinto and adopt the unlocked position.

The present invention relates to a resealable packaging intended inparticular for a food product in powder form, which comprises a devicefor locking the closure system. More specifically, the invention relatesto packaging comprising:

-   -   a container extending along a central axis from a base as far as        an upper face that has an opening delimited by a surround;    -   a closure system comprising a lid mounted articulated relative        to the container between an open position and a closed position        in which it closes off the opening; and    -   a locking device for locking the lid in the closed position and        comprising a locking plate connected to the lid and an        engagement rim secured to the surround, the locking plate being        able to pivot about an axis (for example a substantially        horizontal axis, the central axis being typically vertical)        between an engagement position and an unlocked position, and        having, on either side of the axis, an actuating portion and a        catching portion which extend as far as respective free ends,        the locking plate pivoting from the engagement position in which        the catching portion engages with the engagement rim in the        closed position, into the unlocked position as a result of        manual actuation of the actuating portion towards the central        axis.

Locking such as this, achieved by engagement between the catchingportion and the engagement rim is generally firm enough to keep the lidin the closed position even if the packaging is dropped, and this is notalways the case with a lid the interior periphery of which is simplypushed onto the neck of the container using friction to hold it inplace. Furthermore, the locking plate remains simple and intuitiveenough to manipulate that it remains convenient enough to use.

A locking device such as this is disclosed for example in document WO2005/075314. The packaging described in that document does not very wellincorporate the locking device into the volume of the container. In thatpackaging, the plate projects from the volume of the lid. In order tolimit as far as possible how much of the plate projects, the height ofthe actuating portion is relatively small.

This greatly limits the travel of the plate and means thatprecisely-controlled actions are required. This also gives the user theimpression that the plate is very hard to operate.

In addition, this embodiment does not limit the risks of the lockingplate becoming unlocked or even damaged during transport.

There is therefore a need for packagings that retain a compactappearance and in which the lid and the associated locking mechanism areeasy to operate.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lockingdevice that is improved, both in terms of ease of operation and in termsof secureness of action.

To this end, the invention proposes packaging of the aforementionedtype, characterized in that the lid has a side wall of a height at leastequal to the height of the actuating portion and an upper face that hasa depression opening into the side wall, and in that the actuatingportion of the locking plate lies level with the mouth of the depressionand pivots into this depression to adopt the unlocked position, thecatching portion of the locking plate disengaging radially towards theoutside of the engagement rim.

Thus it becomes possible to obtain a locking plate with ease ofoperation that is incorporated into the height of the lid and has asignificant freedom of pivoting thanks to the depression in the lid.Arranging the locking plate facing a depression in the lid in this waymeans that this locking plate does not protrude above the top of the lidand forms part of the overall exterior volume of the lid.

As a preference, the articulated lid is fairly tall (for example between2 and 5 cm tall) and has a side wall that makes it easier to operate.One or more items can then be stored in the volume defined by the lid.

According to another specific feature, the locking plate extends in thecontinuation of the side wall of the lid in the engagement position.Thus, the lid has an outline with no projections and a plurality ofpackaging closure systems can be stacked.

According to another specific feature, the free end of the actuatingportion is at least three times further away from the pivot axis than isthe free end of the catching portion. This then advantageously yields alever effect during the unlocking operation.

According to another specific feature, the closure system comprises anelastic hinge which comprises two hinge elements between which there isformed a gap f adjacent to the depression, the engagement rim beinginserted into the gap and pressing against the side wall of the lid inthe closed position.

According to another specific feature, the catching portion comprises atleast one peg directed radially inwards with respect to the central axisand engaging with the engagement rim in locked position so as, in thelocked position, to prevent any translational movement of the lockingplate in a direction orthogonal to the pivot axis.

According to another specific feature, the actuating portion has anexterior face with at least one projecting rib. This rib may bepositioned some distance from the free end of the actuating portion,with a shape similar to the outline of this free end. The digit usedduring manual operation will then not be able to slip beyond the rib andwill therefore be placed in an optimum position (for example in themiddle of the actuating portion) for comfortable operation.

According to another specific feature, the locking plate is associatedwith at least one tamper-evident feature indicating that the closuresystem has been tampered with prior to first opening, the tamper-evidentfeature being connected by a first frangible connection to a lateraledge of the plate and by a second connection to an edge formed between aface of the depression and the side wall of the lid.

According to another specific feature, the locking plate is of planarshape in the region of its actuating portion.

According to another specific feature, the locking plate and the lid areobtained as a single component using injection moulding.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure system that iseasy to lock and to unlock.

To this end, the invention proposes a closure system comprising thesurround and the lid of the packaging, characterized in that thesurround and the lid form a single assembly (preferably a one-pieceassembly) intended to be fitted onto the top of a packaging.

Independently or in combination with above mentioned, and withunderstanding that examples and details of realization hereafterdescribed each can be used in isolation, the present invention hererelates to packaging with a resealable closure lid intended for a foodproduct. More specifically, the invention relates to packagingcomprising:

-   -   a container extending along a central axis from a base as far as        an upper face which has an opening delimited by a surround, the        surround having an interior face; and    -   a closure system comprising a lid mounted articulated with        respect to the container between an open position and a closed        position in which it closes off the opening of the container,        the lid having a top wall.

This type of packaging has a closure system that is easy to use and iscommonly employed in the field of food products, for example to containfood products in the form of powder, granules or flakes. Document FR 2747 107 A1 describes an example of food packaging of this kind with thelid articulated via an elastic hinge to a surround covering the top ofthe container. The lid externally covers the top periphery of thesurround. The lid thus offers a good purchase and is thereforeparticularly simple to operate. However, with contents in the form ofpowder, the disadvantage encountered is that powder becomes deposited inthe corners or the edges formed under the lid, particularly once thepackaging has been inverted, for example during transport.

There is therefore a need for packagings that have a lid that ispractical and quick to open and that prevent any product fromaccumulating in the upper parts of the packaging.

It is here therefore an object of the present invention to provide aresealable packaging that makes the lid easy to operate and that limits,in the region of the closure, all the roughnesses that are liable tocollect some of the powder or small-sized particles contained in thepackaging.

To this end, the invention proposes a packaging of the aforementionedtype, characterized in that the lid has a side wall extending from thetop wall and an interior skirt extending from the side wall and somedistance from the top wall so as to define with the side wall acontinuous groove, in that the surround has an upper face which has anannular projection extending in the continuation of the interior face ofthe surround, and in that the interior skirt presses at least partiallyagainst the interior face of the surround in the closed position.

Thus it becomes possible to obtain a packaging that is ergonomic and canbe operated effortlessly, that can be used to contain powdered milkwithout powder accumulating on the upper rims of the surround or of thecontainer. What happens is that the presence of the interior skirtlimits, or even eliminates, the roughnesses in the interior volume ofthe packaging that are liable to collect powder. If contents in the formof powder or granules of the packaging are thrown against the inside ofthe closed lid (for example as a result of the container being invertedduring transport), there will be no accumulation of powder on top of thecontainer when the packaging is next opened.

In addition, the insertion of the annular projection of the surroundinto the groove may advantageously play a part in centring the lid atthe time of closure. Insertion into this groove may also improvesealing. In addition, the lid may delimit a relatively large interiorvolume thanks to the fact that the top wall is raised up relative to thegroove. This gain in volume under the lid is advantageously obtainedwith a portion of side wall extending above the groove, thus making itpossible to limit the dimensions of the groove and thus save onpackaging material.

According to another specific feature, the surround is attached to thecontainer and the closure system comprises a hinge connecting thesurround to the lid in an articulated manner, the surround having aprofile of a height that decreases gradually away from the hinge.

According to another specific feature, the side wall and the interiorskirt meet to form, in vertical section, the arms of a Y. This limitsthe amount of plastic needed to make the lid.

According to another specific feature, the interior skirt extends beyondthe side wall. Thus, closing becomes easier, particularly when the lidhas a certain flexibility and a shorter height opposite the hinge, byvirtue of the guiding/centring effect afforded by this interior skirt.

According to another specific feature, the surround has an exteriorperipheral face with respect to which the annular projection is offsetinwards, the side wall of the lid extending in the continuation of theexterior face of the surround in the closed position. Thus, the lidprovides an additional volume (particularly heightwise) with respect tothe surround, which may allow one or more items to be housed in thevolume defined by the lid.

According to another specific feature, the annular projection is ofsubstantially constant height and is positioned obliquely with respectto the top face of the container.

According to another specific feature, the interior skirt has a free endthat is chamfered on its outside and fits via its entire peripheryagainst the inside of the surround. This has the effect of making theradial contact between the interior skirt and the interior face of thesurround more gradual and less abrupt.

According to another specific feature, the packaging comprises ameasuring utensil with a bowl, the surround comprising, preferably onthe same side as the hinge, a retaining member with a tab which, withthe interior face of the surround, delimits a housing that is open atthe top and intended to accommodate a wall portion of the bowl of themeasuring utensil, the interior skirt extending, when the lid is in theclosed position, up to the vicinity of the housing in order tocollaborate with the bowl housed in the housing. This for example allowsthe bowl to be pushed a little further into the housing as the lid isclosed, or alternatively allows the bowl to be partially disengaged fromthe housing upon opening, but also allows pressure to be applied to thebowl housed in the housing.

According to another specific feature, the lid comprises radial ribsprojecting from the interior skirt towards the inside of the lid andthat meet the top wall of the lid. The radial ribs towards the centralaxis stiffen the skirt and encourage centring at the time of closure.

According to another specific feature, the surround has an exterior edgeadjacent to the annular projection, the exterior edge of the surroundbeing in contact, when the lid is in the closed position, with the freeedge of the side wall, the free edge of the side wall having a widthidentical to the width of the exterior edge.

The invention also relates to a closure system for packaging,comprising:

an annular surround delimiting an opening, the surround having aninterior face;

a lid articulated to the surround and able to move between an openposition and a closed position in which it closes off the opening fromabove, the lid having a top wall;

characterized in that the surround and the lid form a single assembly,the lid having a side wall extending from the top wall and an interiorskirt extending from the side wall and some distance from the top wallso as to define with the side wall a continuous groove, in that thesurround has an upper face which has an annular projection extending inthe continuation of the interior face of the surround, and in that theinterior skirt presses at least partially against said interior face ofthe surround in the closed position. It should be understood that such aclosure system, solving powder retention problem, may be usedindependently of the locking system.

Independently or in combination with above mentioned, and withunderstanding that examples and details of realization hereafterdescribed each can be used in isolation, the present invention hererelates to the field of resealable packages intended in particular forfood products. More particularly, the invention relates to a closuresystem and to a package, the latter comprising:

a container extending along a central axis from a base as far as anupper face that has an opening delimited by a surround, the surroundhaving a radially inner side wall;

a lid that can move between an open position and a closed position inwhich it closes off the opening;

a measuring utensil that has a bowl connected to a handle sized suchthat it can be positioned in the plane of the surround.

Document WO 2005/075314, or alternatively, document FR 2 747 107,discloses how to store the spoon by securing it under the lid using twolugs. The handling operations involved in securing and removing thisspoon entail finger contact with an interior surface of the lid, thispresenting a food hygiene problem because, for example during transport,the contents of the container may come into contact with the interiorsurfaces of the lid. In addition, it is necessary to touch theprojecting back of the spoon in order to extract this spoon from thesecuring lugs, and this may cause the content (powdered formula milk forexample) to become contaminated with germs from that part of the spoonthat will be thrust into the contents of the packaging.

Also disclosed, in document EP 1 512 637-A1, is a closure assembly witha lid articulated to a ring mounted on the upper part of a tin, in whicha spoon can be stored by securing its handle to the inside of the ring.However, securing and removing the spoons require the spoon to behandled in such a way that the user has to touch the bowl or a regionclose to the bowl (given the shortness of the handle), thus leading tocontamination because the bowl and the part adjacent to the bowl willregularly come into contact with the food in the tin. There is thereforea need for food packagings that allow a measuring utensil to be storedinside them and which limit contact liable to contaminate the food,while at the same time being practical for the user to handle.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to alleviate one ormore of the aforementioned disadvantages by providing a resealablepackage with interior storage of a measuring utensil which reduces thechance for contamination and also provides an answer to the issues ofspace and practicality.

To this end, the invention proposes a packaging of the aforementionedtype, characterized in that the inner side wall of the surroundcomprises at least one retaining member, which has a base extending fromthe surround towards the central axis of the container and that isextended by a tab extending upwards some distance from the inner sidewall, the retaining member delimiting, with the inner side wall, aninsertion housing capable with a small amount of clearance ofaccommodating a wall portion of the bowl of the measuring utensil, themeasuring utensil being kept in an interior storage position along thelid by the retaining member in the closed position.

Thus, using these measures, it becomes possible to house the measuringutensil quickly under the lid before closing this lid, without contacteither with the inside of the lid or with the bowl of the utensilbecause the handle can be accessed directly via its free end.

According to another specific feature, the lid comprises a side wall oftubular shape and a transverse top wall, the tab of the retaining membercomprising an upper free end positioned, when the lid is in the closedposition, a determined separation in the direction of the central axisaway from the top wall of the lid, the determined separation being lessthan the depth of the bowl.

Thus, the measuring utensil secured to the retaining member cannot riseup inside the closed package and the bowl remains secured to the hook.There is therefore no risk of the measuring utensil dropping down intothe container with the food product.

According to another specific feature, the surround is of a height thathas a maximum in the region of the side of the retaining member.

Thus, the surround may have a shorter height some distance away from theretaining support/member, thus making the measuring utensil easier toset in place on the hook without touching the edges or the inside of thesurround. Setting the utensil in position and extracting it aretherefore more intuitive to the user.

According to another specific feature, the tab extends over a heightrepresenting from 40 to 80% of the maximum height of the surround

According to another specific feature, the surround has a profile theheight of which decreases gradually away from the retaining member.Thus, the handle of the bowl can be grasped with a minimum of impedimentfrom the surround, which has a shorter height on the handle side than itdoes on the bowl side.

According to another specific feature, the height of the surround variesapproximately by a factor of 2:1 between its maximum and its minimum.

According to another specific feature, the retaining member comprises atleast three bearing zones each applying pressure to a wall portion ofthe bowl in order to grip the bowl. Thus, the utensil is wedged reliablyon just one side.

According to another specific feature, two of the bearing zones are eachformed of a rib of the surround protruding towards the central axis. Theribs may be of triangular shape, with their maximum thickness near theentrance to the insertion housing in order to increase the pressure whenthe bowl is fully inserted into the housing.

According to another specific feature, the lid comprises a tubularinterior skirt a part of which extends, when the lid is in the closedposition, into the vicinity of the housing. The interior skirt pressesradially against an upper part of the inner side wall of the surroundand may for example play a part in keeping the bowl in the housing.

In the closed position, the bowl is therefore covered by the lid bothfrom above and acrossways by the interior skirt.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure system thatallows the measuring utensil to be stored in the closure device in apractical way.

To do that, the invention proposes a closure system for packaging,comprising:

a surround extending in a tubular overall shape about a central axis anddelimiting an opening, the surround having a radially inner side wall;

a lid articulated to the surround and able to move between an openposition and a closed position in which it closes off the opening fromabove;

a measuring utensil that has a bowl connected to a handle sized suchthat it can be positioned in the plane of the surround;

characterized in that the inner side wall of the surround comprises atleast one retaining member which has a base extending from the surroundtowards the central axis, the base being extended by a tab extendingaxially upwards some distance from the inner side wall, the retainingmember delimiting, with the inner side wall, an insertion housingcapable with a small amount of clearance of accommodating a wall portionof the bowl of the measuring utensil, the measuring utensil being keptin an interior storage position along the lid by the retaining member inthe closed position.

These measures advantageously make it possible, with the utensil graspedsimply by its handle, for the bowl to be inserted into the insertionhousing prior to the closing of the lid or for the bowl to be extractedfrom the retaining member after the lid has been opened.

It should be understood that such a closure system, solving a storageproblem regarding a measuring utensil, may be used independently of thelocking system and/or independently of a lid arrangement with aninterior skirt.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become evident fromthe description which will follow, which is given by way of nonlimitingexample with reference to the figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in section of a packaging according to the inventioncomprising a locking device and a lid in the open position, and anassociated measuring utensil;

FIGS. 2A and 2B each depict, in the plane of section VIII-VIII of FIG.5, the locking device with the two parts of this device respectivelybefore and after locking;

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict two perspective views of the part of the lockingdevice connected to the lid;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the packaging of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the lid;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view detailing the region where the lid meetsthe surround;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating how the measuring utensil issecured in the packaging;

FIG. 8 is a view in section on the plane VIII-VIII of the closure systemin the closed position; and

FIG. 9 is a view, on the same plane of section as for FIG. 1,illustrating the complementary shapes of the surround and the lid ingreater detail.

In the various figures, identical references indicate elements that areidentical or similar.

With reference to FIG. 1, the packaging 1 comprises a container 2 and aclosure system 3. A locking device 4 like the one illustratedparticularly in FIGS. 2A and 2B may be fitted to the closure system 3.The container 2 is rigid or semi-rigid, for example made of metal, ofcardboard with a food-grade coating or some other material suited tofood packaging. This container 2 is open at just one end, the oppositeend to its closed end or base 20, and may be of any shape: cylindrical,frustoconical, parallelepipedal, with a constriction, etc., as thoseskilled in the art will appreciate.

The container 2 in the embodiment depicted has a tubular side wall 22which extends from the base 20 along a vertical central axis Z as far asan upper face 23. In the example of FIGS. 1, 4 and 7, the upper face 23has a wide opening 24 surrounded by a surround or periphery 25. Thecontainer 2 with this wide opening 24 is suited to containing powderedformula milk that has to be removed through the opening using anappropriate utensil. This then is a relatively deep container thatrequires the opening 24 to be made as wide as possible to make it easierto remove powder from the bottom 20 of the container 2. In particular,the opening 24 and the container 2 may be characterized by substantiallyidentical inside diameters.

When the packaging 1 is being used to contain powdered milk, an innerseal, not depicted, is provided, this being sealed for example around aninterior border or onto the periphery 25 of the container 2. Thus, thepowdered milk is perfectly preserved in the container 2 until the timeof first use, at which point the inner seal is removed.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 8, the closure system 3 first of allcomprises a lid 31 of relatively domed shape, so that this lid can beconsidered to have a substantially flat top wall P, that forms theclosed end of the lid, and a side wall substantially coaxial with thecentral axis Z. The lid 31 also has an interior face facing towards theopening 24 in the closed position and which in general terms is shapedlike a dish because of the domed shape of the lid 31.

The closure system 3 additionally comprises a frame or surround 32 whichdelimits the opening 24. In a preferred embodiment, the surround 32 maybe mounted as a close fit on an upper part or neck of the container 2.The surround 32 is fixed preferably non-removably to this part of thecontainer 2, particularly by clipping together, but this attachmentcould equally be afforded by bonding or welding. In the nonlimitingexample of FIGS. 8 and 9, a groove 300 accepts and clip-fastens the neckof the container 2. As an alternative, the surround 32 could correspondto an edging that forms an integral part of the container 2.

The opening 24 may be slightly narrowed with respect to the crosssection of the container, for example on account of there being alevelling edge. In such a case, the surround 32 may delimit an openingof different dimensions, preferably greater than those of the narrowedopening.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 6, 8 and 9, the lid 31 and the surround 32are articulated together via a connection that allows the lid 31 to bemoved with respect to the surround 32 and to the container 2 between anopen position depicted in FIG. 1, in which the opening 24 is largelyaccessible, and a closed position, depicted in FIG. 8, in which the lid31 covers this opening. This then is a resealable packaging the lid 31of which is handled on each occasion, for example for preparing babybottles.

The connection in this instance is a hinged connection 30 in which theaxis of pivoting is perpendicular to the central axis Z. In theembodiment depicted, it is a plastic hinge 30 formed by a fold line,which allows the lid 31 and the surround 32 to be produced as a singlecomponent. This then is a component obtained by injecting a plastic,such as polypropylene for example, into a mould. However, the hingedconnection 30 could of course be obtained using two separate componentsassembled with one another, and it is equally possible to provide someother form of connection between the surround 32 and the lid 31. Inalternative forms of embodiment in which the surround forms part of thecontainer 2, it will be understood that the lid 31 can then be mountedremovably on the upper part or neck of the container 2.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the surround 32 has a projectingmember with an engagement rim 33 used for locking. The locking device 4comprises, on the lid 31, a locking lug or plate 41 articulated on apivot axis 400 perpendicular to the central axis Z. The plate 41 has, oneach side of the axis 400, an actuating portion 410 and a catchingportion 420. The actuating portion 410 extends as far as a first freeend 42, that can be gripped from above when the lid 31 is in the closedposition, while the catching portion 420 extends in the oppositedirection from the pivot axis 400 as far as a second free end 43. Whenthe lid 31 is in the closed position, the plate 41 occupies anengagement position in which the catching portion 420 engages with theengagement rim 33. Unlocking is performed by actuating the actuatingportion 410 by hand towards the central axis Z.

By exerting finger or thumb pressure on a preferably central region ofthe actuating portion 410, as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 2B, thecatching portion 420 is made to withdraw (away from the central axis Z)in the direction of the arrow B. The catching portion 420 can then bemoved out of the locking position.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, the annular peripheralportion of the lid comprises a side wall 220 the height of which is atleast equal to the height of the actuating portion 410 of the plate 41.The upper face defined by the upper portion of the lid 31 comprises adepression 47 opening into the side wall 220. The depression 47 isformed in the side wall 220 of the lid 31 and may extend as far as thelower end of the lid 31.

The depression 47 is defined by a recessed portion of the top wall P ofthe lid 31 that has a radially outer mouth delimited by the break in thegeometry with the exterior profile of the lid 31 as a whole. It shouldbe noted that the actuating portion 410 of the locking plate 41 lies inthe region of the mouth of the depression 47. The depression 47preferably has a depth that increases towards the mouth of thedepression 47, as may be seen in FIGS. 2A, 3A and 3B. This allows anindex finger, for example, to be inserted between the depression 47 andthe locking plate 41. The width of the depression 47 may also increasetowards the lateral mouth. The depression 47 is therefore delimited by aU-shaped edge of the upper face of the lid 31.

More generally, the shape of the depression 47 is chosen so that itsmouth is wide enough that the user can easily hold the actuating regionof the locking plate 41 between two digits. The locking plate 41 cantherefore pivot into the depression 47 to adopt the unlocked position.The locking plate has a significant travel thanks to the depression 47in the lid 31. By way of nonlimiting example, the free end 42 of theactuating portion 410 may lie at least three times further away from thepivot axis 400 than does the free end 43 of the catching portion 420.The plate 41 can therefore behave like a lever, with the lever bydefault returning to the engagement position to encourage locking.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 with the lid 31 closed, the locking plate 41extends in the continuation of the peripheral side wall 220 in theengagement position. Thus, the lid 31 has an outline that has noprotrusion, allowing several closure systems 3 to be stacked. FIG. 5illustrates the continuity of the outline of the lid 31. As a result,the entire locking device 4 is integrated into the exterior profile ofthe entire lid 31, and even of the entire packaging 1, because of thecorrespondence between the profile of the lid 31 and of the part thatforms a container 2 when the lower end of the lid 31 is resting on theupper face of the surround 32.

With reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 5 and 9, the locking plate 41 isconnected to the side wall 220 of the lid 31 by at least two elements440 of an elastic hinge. Formed between these two elements 440 is aspace f adjacent to the depression 47. This space f lies in thecontinuation of a continuous groove 60 formed between the side wall 220and an interior skirt 21 of the lid 31. As illustrated in FIG. 9, thesurround 32 has an upper face that has an annular projection 320extending in the continuation of the interior face of the side wall ofthe surround 32. A projection comprising the engagement rim 33 extendsfrom this annular projection in an upwards direction. The profile of theengagement rim 33 may be simply rectangular. The engagement rim 33projects for example in the opposite direction to the central axis Z soas to have a free end situated near the interior face of the lockingplate 41. When the lid 31 is in the closed position, the engagement rim33 fits into the space f between the side wall 220 and the catchingportion 420, pressing against the side wall 220.

In the embodiment depicted, the engagement rim 33 consists of a portionof the surround 32 situated facing the locking lug 41, and morespecifically positioned on the exterior periphery of the upper face ofthe surround 32.

It should be noted that the cross section of the locking plate 41 is notnecessarily a perfect rectangle. The radially inner face of the lockingplate 41 may have one or more ribs to alter its rigidity, and thereforethe force needed to move the free end 43 away from the engagement rim33. As illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3A, the locking plate 41 may thushave a rib or similar reinforcing element R projecting towards thecentral axis Z. This reinforcing element R extends over the space f andmay constitute an end stop for the upper face of the engagement rim 33when the lid 31 is in the closed position.

With reference to FIG. 2B, the engagement rim 33 may extend the mouth ofthe depression 47 when the lid 31 is in the closed position. Theprojecting portion of the surround 32 that defines the engagement rim 33may close off the space f and be urged radially outwards by the sidewall 220 of the lid 31. Thus, the projection of the surround 32 bydefault nestles under the reinforcing element R when the lid 31 is inthe closed position, as long as the pivoting locking plate 41 is notbeing actuated by the user.

The catching portion 420 may have one or more pegs 430 directed radiallyinwards with respect to the central axis Z and engaging with theengagement rim 33 from underneath in the locked position. Each peg 430has the overall shape of a projecting rib running horizontally acrossthe interior face of the locking plate 41 with a trapezoidal profile, aquadrant profile or substantially triangular profile. By way of example,two spaced-apart pegs 430 may thus extend with increasing thickness fromthe free end 43 of the catching portion 420 as far as a substantiallyhorizontal level adjacent to the axis 400 of pivoting of the lockingplate 41.

A clip-fastening effect is thus obtained by virtue of the pegs 430 ofthe catching portion 420. Nonetheless, in order to achieve such clipfastening, it is not strictly necessary for the pegs 430 or the catchingportion 420 necessarily to have such a profile. Indeed, at least one peg430 could have a different profile, for example being the form of abead, particularly when the engagement rim 33 has a profilesignificantly different from that of a rectangle.

The lid 31 can therefore no longer pivot about the axis defined by thehinge 30 positioned on the opposite side to the locking device 4, norcan it be raised through a translational movement. In other words, itwill thus be appreciated that in the locked position it is possible forthe packaging 1 to be carried by the region of the locking plate 41 thatis intended for grasping, without causing the lid 31 to open, providedthat the actuating portion 410 has not been pivoted towards thedepression 47 in the lid 31.

The purpose of the locking device 4 is to prevent unwanted spillage ofproduct after first opening when the inner seal has been removed, but itis not intended to achieve the kind of sealed closure obtainedpreviously using the inner seal.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A to 3B, the lid 31 also comprisestamper-evident features 6 with frangible connections, associated withthe locking plate 41 to form a tamper-proofing device indicating thatthe packaging 1 has not been tampered with. More specifically in theexemplary embodiment depicted, each of the tamper-evident features 6 isin the form of a plastic tooth formed as an integral part of the lid 31.The tamper-evident feature 6 is attached on at least one side to theside wall 220 of the lid 31. One or more frangible connections in theform of frangible bridges of material connect the tamper-evident feature6 to a lateral edge of the locking plate 41.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B, the tamper-evident features 6 areof trapezoidal shape and the frangible connection lies on a vertexdistant from the side wall 220. The locking plate 41 has a semicircularedge to which the tamper-evident features 6 are attached frangibly priorto first opening of the lid 31. The frangible connections to thetamper-evident features 6 are preferably situated to the side on eachside of a mid plane of the plate 41 parallel to the central axis Z andin such a way as not to interfere with the operation of the lockingplate 41. In the embodiment depicted, the mid plane of the locking plate41 is a plane of symmetry which passes through the central axis Z. Theaxis 400 of pivoting of the locking plate 41 is orthogonal to this midplane.

Each of the tamper-evident features 6, of which there are preferablytwo, is positioned at the mouth of the depression 47 and each tooth thatforms the tamper-evident feature 6 is shaped in such a way as to extendin the continuation of the exterior profile of the entire lid 31. Thisgives the packaging 1 a particularly attractive appearance and limitsthe possibility of it catching on anything during its working life. Inaddition, the fact that the tamper-evident features 6 are secured to thelid 31 prevents any possibility of these features 6 dropping into thecontainer 2. In the example of FIGS. 3A and 3B, these tamper-evidentfeatures 6 are connected to the side wall 220 of the lid 31 at the edgeformed between a lateral face of the depression 47 and a face of thelateral periphery of the lid 31.

Mention has been made here of one frangible bridge of material pertamper-evident feature 6 but of course the number of bridges of materialand the layout of such bridges could differ substantially. For example,one tamper-evident feature 6 could partially cover the front or rearsurface of the locking plate 41.

The working life of the packaging 1 may run as follows. Theinjection-moulding of the entire closure device 3 with the locking andtamper-proofing devices (4, 6) yields a single component that can beconfigured in the closed position with the lid 31 folded down onto thesurround 32. Thanks to the locking devices 4 and the tamper-proofingdevices, this configuration is maintained.

The closure device 3 thus formed may then easily be fitted onto thecontainer 2 which has been already filled and provided with its innerseal, for example using clip fastening. The packaging 1 is then readyfor sale. Any manual attempt at opening it will cause at least one ofthe frangible connections to rupture and this will generally be readilyperceivable by the consumer.

At the time of first use, the user will, by pivoting the plate 41, breakthe frangible connections of the tamper-evident features 6. The fact ofthus unlocking the locking device 4 allows the lid 31 to be moved.Through a pressure applied to the exterior region, visible in FIG. 3B,of the actuating portion 410 and a slight upwards pulling movement, theuser can then bring the lid 31 into the open position. As illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B, a projecting rib 450 may be provided on the exteriorface of the actuating portion 410, this for example having the sameshape as the free edge of the actuating portion 410 (a C-shape in theembodiment depicted). This rib 450 provides a better purchase for thethumb when exerting pressure on the actuating portion 410 for unlockingpurposes and improves the effectiveness of this action.

When the packaging 1 is resealed, that is to say when the lid 31 isfolded back down, locking is brought about automatically by the clipfastening of the catching portion 420 on the engagement rim 33.Thereafter, for a further use, all that is required is for pressure tobe applied once again to the central region of the actuating portion 410in order to release the locking device 4.

One way of attaching a measuring utensil 100 that is permitted bypackaging 1 according to the invention will now be described inconjunction with FIGS. 1 and 6 to 9.

With reference to FIG. 1, the lid 31 may be domed and of significantheight (for example between 2 and 5 cm tall). The lid 31 thus has a sidewall 220 that makes it easier to handle and a top wall P able to coverthe opening 24. One or more items, particularly a measuring utensil 100when the packaging contains powdered milk, may then be stored in theinterior volume defined by the lid 31. In the embodiment depicted, thelid 31 is articulated to the surround 32 and the interior volume usedfor storing the measuring utensil 100 lies between the opening 24 of thecontainer and the top wall P of the lid 31 in its closed position.

Initially, the measuring utensil 100 may be wrapped in a bag and placedbetween the inner seal and the lid 31 in the packaging 1 ready for sale.The measuring utensil 100 has a bowl 15 connected to a handle 16. Thedimensions, particularly the length, of the utensil, allow this utensilto be positioned in the plane of the surround 32. In the case of acontainer 2 of circular design, it will be appreciated that the lengthof the measuring utensil 100 remains smaller than the inside diameter ofthe surround 32.

In order not to give rise to contact liable to contaminate the food, asingle region is provided on the radially inner side wall of thesurround 32 to which the measuring utensil 100 will be secured in theupper part of the packaging 1, via its bowl 15. The surround 32 may herewith equal preference correspond either to a part of the container 2 orto an element attached to the container 2, as those skilled in the artwill appreciate. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the inner side wall comprisesat least one retaining member which has a base b extending from thesurround 32 towards the central axis Z of the container 2 and which isextended by a tab 5 extending upwards some distance from the interiorwall of the surround 32. The retaining member delimits, with this innerside wall, an insertion housing L capable with a small amount ofclearance of accommodating a wall portion of the bowl 15 of themeasuring utensil 100. The tab 5 may be ribbed to increase its rigidity,for example with two parallel ribs 55 projecting towards the centralaxis Z.

The function performed by the retaining member is to wedge the bowl wallportion inserted in the housing L. To do that, the tab 5 may have aprofile that is rectangular overall or more generally tailored to theshape of the wall of the bowl 15 of the measuring utensil. At least aportion of the tab 5 may be parallel to the central axis Z. The tab 5may have at least one free end in contact with the wall portion of thebowl 15 inserted in the housing L.

With reference to FIG. 8, the tab 5 of the retaining member comprises anupper free end positioned, when the lid 31 is in the closed position,with a determined separation from the top wall P when the lid 31 is inthe closed position. This determined separation is less than the depthof the bowl 15 so as to prevent the bowl portion 15 inserted in theinsertion housing L from leaving this housing L, as this might cause themeasuring utensil 100 to drop down inside the container 2. FIG. 7illustrates the position of the measuring utensil 100 at the surround 32secured by the retaining member. The handle 16 is clear of the surround32 and can be readily grasped by the user in order to make use of themeasuring utensil 100. Alternatively, the bowl 15 may be retained usinga bowl position that is the inverse of that shown in the example of FIG.7, with the bowl opening uppermost. In that case, the tab 5 may fit intoa hollow delimited in the bottom of the bowl. More generally, one ormore tabs of the aforementioned type may be used to grip at least onewall portion of the bowl 15.

In a preferred embodiment, the retaining member comprises at least threebearing regions each applying pressure to the wall portion of the bowl15 in order to clamp the bowl 15 of the measuring utensil 100. Two ofthese bearing regions are, for example, each formed of a rib 52 of theinner side wall of the surround 32, protruding towards the central axisZ. The third bearing region is provided by the side of the tab 5 facingthe inner side wall of the surround 32.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 9, ribs 52 with an essentially verticalcomponent are thus provided on the inner side wall of the surround 32,in contact with the exterior of the wall portion of the bowl. These ribs52 for example perform both a clamping and a guiding function. In theembodiment depicted, the thickness of the ribs 52 decreases towards theclosed end of the housing L, which closed end is formed by the base b ofthe retaining member. This configuration of ribs 52 produces an initialaxis of insertion into the housing L of the bowl 15 wall portion that isslightly inclined with respect to the direction of the central axis Z,as can be seen in FIG. 9. However, the tab 5 extends in an overalldirection that is substantially parallel to the central axis Z. For abowl with a roughly cylindrical wall, it will therefore be appreciatedthat when the wall portion of the bowl 15 has been fully inserted intothe housing L, the thickest portion of the ribs 52 will then more firmlygrip the bowl 15 wall portion positioned in the housing L.

In the embodiment in which there is an elastic hinge 30 connecting thelid 31 to the surround 32, the single catching region is located on thehinge 30 side. As illustrated in particular in FIG. 7 with a surround inthe form of a ring attached to the container 2, the height of thesurround 32 is at a maximum H2 at the retaining member side, the heightdecreasing on either side of this maximum H2, preferably gradually, downto a reduced height on the side opposite this retaining member. In orderto put the bowl 15 of the measuring utensil 100 in position on theretaining member, it is necessary to hold the handle on that side of thesurround 32 where the height is the lowest so that the bowl 15 can bebrought in close to the retaining member. With this reduction in theheight of the surround 32, the measuring utensil 100 can be secured andremoved intuitively, unimpeded by the surround 32, by grasping hold onlyof the free end of the handle 16.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, the lid 31 may have a plane of symmetrywhich corresponds to the plane of section of FIG. 1. This plane ofsymmetry may include the central axis Z and pass respectively andcentrally through the hinge 30, the depression 47 and the plate 41 ofthe locking device. In the embodiment depicted with the hinge 30, theprofile of the lid 31 complements the profile of the surround 32. Themaximum height H2 of the surround 32 thus lies on the hinge 30 side,while the maximum height H1 of the lid 31 lies opposite, that is to sayon the same side as the locking device 4 in the example depicted. Thelid 31 therefore has a minimum height on the hinge 30 side. This minimumis, for example, of the order of 1 or 2 cm and the maximum height H1 ofthe lid 31 is about twice or three times this minimum. The height of themeasuring utensil 100 in the position in which it is secured to theretaining member (and which substantially corresponds to the depth ofthe bowl 15) typically ranges between 1 and 3 cm. The measuring utensil100 can therefore be positioned under the lid 31 in the closed position,housed inside the volume defined by the lid 31 and the surround 32.

A lid 31 design suitable for food packaging according to the inventionand intended for powdered milk will now be described more particularlyin conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 6 to 9.

As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 9, the lid 31 comprises an interior skirt21 which, with the exterior side wall 220 of the lid 31 defines acontinuous groove 60. This groove 60 may completely surround theinterior skirt 21. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, theside wall 220 diverges radially from the central axis Z towards a freeedge of this side wall 220. The interior skirt 21 on the other hand issubstantially cylindrical about the central axis Z for example. Theinterior skirt and the side wall 220 preferably share this same centralaxis Z in a coaxial configuration.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the surround 32 has an upper facewhich delimits a wide opening 24 via which the user can, using asuitable tool, make use of the powdered milk or similar contents. Theupper face of the surround 32 has an annular projection 320 that fitsinto the groove 60 when the lid 31 is in the closed position. Thisannular projection 320 of the surround 32 thus plays a part in centeringthe lid 31 as it closes.

The annular projection 320 advantageously extends in the continuation ofthe inner face of the side wall of the surround 32. Thus, the inside ofthe surround has a continuous appearance preferably without any rim orlip. In the embodiment depicted, the retaining member for the bowl 15 ofthe measuring utensil 100 lies at a lower level than the annularprojection 320. With the exception of this retaining member, the entireinner side wall of the surround 32 located above the inner seal issmooth. There is therefore, where the surround meets the lid 31, nosurface such as an interior rim on which powdered milk could becomedeposited. In practical terms, the lid 31 thus arranged can be closedunimpeded.

With reference to FIG. 8, in the closed position, the annular projection320 fits into the groove 60 without, however, reaching the bottom ofthis groove 60. The height of the annular projection 320 ranges, forexample, between 1 and 4 mm. It should be noted that the annularprojection 320 runs predominantly below a plane orthogonal to thecentral axis Z and passing through the axis of articulation of the hinge30. In FIGS. 1, 4 and 7 it may be seen that only part of the annularprojection 320 near the hinge 30 protrudes above this plane (which inthe example of FIG. 1 is horizontal) that passes through the hinge 30.

The interior skirt 21 covers, preferably continuously, an upper strip ofthe inner side wall of the surround 32 in this closed position and maythus, via its entire periphery, fit against the inside of the surround32. The free end 210 of the interior skirt 21 is rounded or chamfered tomake contact between the interior skirt 21 and the inner side wall ofthe surround 32 more gradual as the lid 31 is being lowered.

The interior skirt 21 may, on the side nearest the hinge 30 and on itsinterior face, have one or more projecting contact surfaces which, asthe lid 31 is being closed, press against the bowl 15 housed in theretaining member. This pressure pushes the bowl wall portion insertedinto the housing L towards the base b. The projecting surface may bechamfered in order to obtain this effect of pushing the bowl 15 of themeasuring utensil 100 deeper into the housing L. The effect afforded bythe projecting surface could, alternatively or in addition, cause thebowl to begin to lift during the operation of opening the lid 31. On theopposite side to the hinge 30, it should be noted as illustrated inparticular in FIG. 7 that the depression 47 locally narrows the tubularvolume defined by the interior skirt 21.

With reference to FIG. 9, the surround 32 comprises a peripheralexterior face with respect to which the annular projection 320 is offsetinwards. In the closed position, the exterior edge of the surround 32adjacent to the annular projection 320 is covered by the edge of theside wall 220 as can be seen in FIG. 8. This edge-to-edge form ofmeeting means that the entire surround-lid assembly can maintain asmooth exterior profile, the exterior skirt formed by the side wall 220meeting and continuing the exterior face of the surround 32 in theclosed position.

The side wall 220 and the interior skirt 21 meet and, in verticalsection, form the arms of a Y, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The sidewall 220 of the lid 31 is preferably in radial contact with the annularprojection 320 when the lid 31 is in the closed position. Because theinterior skirt 21 designed to cover the inside of the entire annularprojection 320 of the surround 32 is also in radial contact with thisannular projection 320 in the closed position, it will be understoodthat the closure is advantageously better sealed.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 8, the profile where the lid 31 meets thesurround 32 is curved and oblique overall, with the maximum height H1 ofthe lid 31 on the opposite side to the hinge 30. In the embodimentdepicted, the profile of the side wall 220 of the lid 31 has a heightthat decreases gradually towards the hinge 30. Correspondingly, thesurround 32 has a side wall the height of which decreases gradually asfar as the region in which the engagement rim 33 is situated.

As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the annular projection 320 has apreferably constant height and therefore has the same oblique profile asthe side wall of the surround 32. The oblique profile of the meetingpoint from the hinge 30 and the rounded or chamfered shape to the freeend of the interior skirt 21 makes the engagement of the interior skirt21 with the inner side wall of the surround 32 more gradual as the lid31 is being closed. As a result, the force applied by the user is morecontinuous, improving the comfort of use. What actually happens is thatany abrupt engagement of the lid 31 with the surround 32 which wouldgenerate a hard contact point is avoided. The interior skirt 21 mayextend under the level at which the lid 31 and the surround 32 meet edgeto edge in the closed position.

According to an embodiment that has not been depicted, the lid 31 mayhave radial ribs projecting from the interior skirt 21 towards theinside of the lid 31 to stiffen the latter. These ribs are, for example,of triangular profile and meet the top wall P of the lid 31.

Of course, the embodiment described hereinabove is nonlimiting andnumerous alternatives regarding the geometry of the components that makeup the locking and tamper-proofing devices or the bowl 15 retainingdevice may be produced without departing from the scope of the inventionas claimed. In particular, although the closure system 3 has beendescribed as being in two parts with a lid 31 which is articulated or,more generally, removable with respect to a surround 32 which is mountedon the container 2, it is clear that the lid 31 may close off theopening 24 by being fitted directly onto a container 2 of correspondingshape, with or without a hinged articulation.

1. Packaging for a food product, comprising: a container extending alonga central axis from a base as far as an upper face that has an openingdelimited by a surround; a closure system comprising a lid mountedarticulated relative to the container between an open position and aclosed position in which it closes off the opening; and a locking devicefor locking the lid in the closed position and comprising a lockingplate connected to the lid and an engagement rim secured to thesurround, the locking plate being able to pivot about a substantiallyhorizontal axis between an engagement position and an unlocked position,and having, on either side of said pivot axis, a catching portion and anactuating portion which extend as far as respective free ends, thelocking plate pivoting about the pivot axis from the engagement positionin which the catching portion engages with the engagement rim in theclosed position, into the unlocked position as a result of manualactuation of the actuating portion towards the central axis; wherein thelid has a side wall of a height at least equal to the height of theactuating portion and an upper face that has a depression opening intothe side wall, and in that wherein the actuating portion of the lockingplate lies level with the mouth of the depression and pivots into saiddepression to adopt the unlocked position, the catching portion of thelocking plate disengaging radially towards the outside of the engagementrim.
 2. The packaging according to claim 1, in which the locking plateextends in the continuation of the side wall of the lid in theengagement position.
 3. The packaging according to claim 1, in which thefree end of the actuating portion is at least three times further awayfrom the pivot axis than is the free end of the catching portion.
 4. Thepackaging according claim 1, in which the closure system comprises anelastic hinge which comprises two hinge elements between which there isformed a gap adjacent to the depression, the engagement rim beinginserted into the gap and pressing against the side wall of the lid inthe closed position.
 5. The packaging according claim 1, in which thecatching portion comprises at least one peg directed radially inwardswith respect to the central axis and engaging with the engagement rim inlocked position so as, in the locked position, to prevent anytranslational movement of the locking plate in a direction orthogonal tothe pivot axis.
 6. The packaging according claim 1, in which theactuating portion has an exterior face with at least one projecting rib.7. The packaging according claim 1, in which the locking plate isassociated with at least one tamper-evident feature indicating that theclosure system has been tampered with prior to first opening, saidtamper-evident feature being connected by a first frangible connectionto a lateral edge of the plate and by a second connection to an edgeformed between a face of the depression and the side wall of the lid. 8.The packaging according claim 1, in which the locking plate is of planarshape in the region of its actuating portion.
 9. The packaging accordingclaim 1, in which the locking plate and the lid are obtained as a singlecomponent using injection moulding.
 10. A closure system for packaging,comprising: a surround extending in a tubular overall shape about acentral axis (Z) and delimiting an opening; a lid articulated to thesurround and able to move between an open position and a closed positionin which it closes off the opening from above; a locking device forlocking the lid in the closed position and comprising a locking plateconnected to the lid and an engagement rim secured to the surround, saidlocking plate being able to pivot about a substantially horizontal axisbetween an engagement position and an unlocked position, and having, oneither side of said pivot axis, a catching portion and an actuatingportion which extend as far as respective free ends, said locking platepivoting about the pivot axis from the engagement position in which thecatching portion engages with the engagement rim in the closed position,into the unlocked position as a result of manual actuation of theactuating portion towards the central axis; wherein the surround, thelid and the locking device form a one-piece assembly, the lid having aside wall of a height at least equal to the height of the actuatingportion and an upper face comprising a depression opening into the sidewall, and wherein the actuating portion of the locking plate is situatedlevel with the mouth of the depression and pivots into said depressionto adopt the unlocked position, the catching portion of the lockingplate disengaging radially towards the outside of the engagement rim.